Comfortably Curated

Graced with an enviable collection of art and antiques, this new home in Denver’s Polo Club was designed to look as mature as its venerable neighborhood

By Mary Barthelme Abel

When the homeowners of this Polo Club home moved from Colorado Springs to Denver, they had a clear vision of what they wanted: a new home that looked like it had always been a part of the exclusive Denver neighborhood. But they also wanted comfort for themselves, two grown children, guests, a collection of heirloom furnishings and art and, last but certainly not least, eight beloved felines. The result, after purchasing and demolishing an existing home, is a palatial estate that harkens back to the grandeur of the area’s 1920’s roots.

For a project of this magnitude, the couple brought together some of the most experienced design professionals in the state, starting with architect Don Ruggles. As the president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, this was the perfect assignment. “The homeowners already had a fine collection of art and antiques, which was carefully curated from their former home. Considering the pieces, a plan for the home was developed to create authentic beauty that respected the period of the neighborhood’s birth.”

For the interior design and finishes, Ruggles referred the couple to Eric Mandil and his team at Mandil, Inc.; custom home builder Jeremy Larson of Montare Builders was selected from a bounty of bids. Finally, Lifescape Colorado was challenged with creating a formal landscape design that looked as established as the home itself. “The goal was to make it look like it was the first house on the street, and we all worked together and created a sort of a guild,” explains Mandil. “We became a true collaborative force, and because the homeowners were so open to our ideas, we were able to create an exceptional piece of architecture.”

After the completion of this nearly three-year project, the family was able to move in just in time to enjoy the 2012 holidays. And there was rejoicing all around. “It will go down as one of my favorite projects,” says Mandil. “The owners are fun people with strong personalities, and the home reflects them. It was a treat to create this authentic, timeless home.”

The main living area features sophisticated-yet-comfortable furnishings; works on paper by Gustave Baumann frame the doorway.

Built-in cabinetry flanks the formal dining room, providing space for hundreds of cookbooks; a custom chandelier from Ebanista casts a warm glow on an antique table and chairs.

In the breakfast room, a work on paper by Dale Chihuly adds a contemporary note to the rustic table and chairs.

The classic kitchen, designed by Mary Lynn Rockwell and Linda McLean of William Ohs Showrooms, features refined French Country cabinetry. A large island, centered beneath a dramatic custom hood, dominates the room and provides plenty of space for entertaining and informal gatherings. The stools, which came from the couple’s previous home, were reupholstered with fabric from Imrovich & Strepman.

Since the upper levels are kept private, the stunning spiral staircase is placed at the back of the home; the Ironworks International three-tiered custom chandelier is from John Brooks, and Ann Marie Auricchio of AM Creative painted the celestial-themed ceiling medallion.

The wife’s master bath features cabinetry from William Ohs, an array of tile from Decorative Materials, and a deep soaking tub from Stone Forest. “It’s one solid piece of stone; the floors had to be reinforced to support the weight,” remarks builder Jeremy Larson. “We used a crane to get it to the second story, then slid it into the bathroom.”